Expired fire extinguishers

May 20, 2023, 06:11 PM

coloradohunter44

Got an email from a friend I've taken fishing recently. He advised me that they were inspecting boats over at our fishing spot. They were writing tickets for expired fire extinguishers and such. $102 fine. Good thing I checked mine. It is old. They are considered no good after 10-12 years. Guess a trip to purchase a new one is in order. I had to go on the Kidde site to see how to look them up. Its the black serial number as seen in the pick. 05 is the year, 1 is the plant it was manufactured at. Using the last three numbers.

May 20, 2023, 06:14 PM

dsiets

What do you do w/ the old one? Toss it out the window? Into the lake?

May 20, 2023, 06:20 PM

ArtieS

Choot it!!!

"I vowed to myself to fight against evil more completely and more wholeheartedly than I ever did before. . . . That’s the only way to pay back part of that vast debt, to live up to and try to fulfill that tremendous obligation."

Alfred Hornik, Sunday, December 2, 1945 to his family, on his continuing duty to others for surviving WW II.

May 20, 2023, 06:26 PM

dsiets

Maybe keep it as a backup?

quote:
Originally posted by ArtieS:
Choot it!!!

Can you donate it?

quote:
Originally posted by ArtieS:
Choot it!!!

Do they recycle them?

quote:
Originally posted by ArtieS:
Choot it!!!

I'm getting mixed messages here.

May 20, 2023, 06:38 PM

sigarmsp226

Colorado - Thanks for posting this - My Lowe 16’ aluminum boat is a 2006 model (I bought in 2008) and I just checked my extinguisher - It was charged/activated in 2005 so I will also be ordering or purchasing a new extinguisher in the coming days….

My local Wal-Mart has a marine unit in stock that carries a six year warranty for $23.00 so I will be buying one in the coming days…..

Thanks again for your thread on this topic…

May 20, 2023, 06:39 PM

coloradohunter44

Good question. I'll stop by the local very nearby fire station and ask. Maybe they use them for training or such...

sigarmsp226 glad it helped

May 20, 2023, 06:46 PM

PASig

Anecdotal here but I bought an older home in 2017 that had a fire extinguisher hanging in the basement doorway that dated from the early 1970’s.

I replaced it of course but wasn’t sure how to dispose of it so I asked a firefighter friend and he advised I place it inside a large, closed contractor size trash bag and discharge it. Wouldn’t you know that sonofabitch fired off as strong as the day it was made? You could just tell how it puffed the bag up and kept firing until empty. ABC dry chemical red canister. Then it got placed into the trash.

May 20, 2023, 06:54 PM

rburg

So much we don't know in all this. Most important is what the extinguisher is charged with. Maybe dry chemical does go bad. it seems to harden and has no value when it gets that way. But I need someone to explain why CO2 goes bad in 5 or so years. Even more interesting is why Halon goes bad. Anyone know or want to guess. I'll guess its to help fund the manufacturers. I do know that they recycle halon because it doesn't go bad. Reconcile that with your 5 year deadline.

And are we talking 1201 or 1307? The simple fact is firemen are a pretty simple lot who enjoy simple rules that make little or no sense.

May 20, 2023, 06:59 PM

sigarmsp226

Colorado et al: One thing I just noticed. Your extinguisher canister as well as mine is RED in color. Reading on line the red units are not identified as “Marine” extinguishers even though they reflect the required “B” and “C” fire extinguishing chemicals.

The “White” canisters are specifically identified as “Marine” extinguishers. I am going to purchase the white unit as it is only $3.00 more than the red unit as it is clearly marked for Marine use….Not sure it is required but why take the chance fr $3.00.

Not sure they would ticket a boat owner if the unit was current if it was a red unit vs. a white unit….Just thought I would share…

May 20, 2023, 07:02 PM

You can have your fire extinguisher recharged. Usually there is a local business that provides the service.
Here is a business in Northern VA:

https://proteksfire.com/fire-extinguishers/

May 20, 2023, 07:10 PM

coloradohunter44

quote:
Originally posted by sigarmsp226:
Colorado et al: One thing I just noticed. Your extinguisher canister as well as mine is RED in color. Reading on line the red units are not identified as “Marine” extinguishers even though they reflect the required “B” and “C” fire extinguishing chemicals.

The “White” canisters are specifically identified as “Marine” extinguishers. I am going to purchase the white unit as it is only $3.00 more than the red unit as it is clearly marked for Marine use….Not sure it is required but why take the chance fr $3.00.

Not sure they would ticket a boat owner if the unit was current if it was a red unit vs. a white unit….Just thought I would share…

Excellent point. I'll be sure to purchase the correct model. Thx.

May 20, 2023, 07:51 PM

selogic

Some dry chemical extinguishers can be tested and recharged . Some are just throwaways after they expire . It's a good idea to take your extinguisher and invert it , and bump it on the bottom with your hand once a year or so .. Keeps the powder from settling and packing .

May 20, 2023, 07:51 PM

Redleg06

I need to check all of mine also. Don't forget to check dates on any flares you might have and inspect your PFD'S. Some inflatables may have dated components (bobbins and/or CO2 canisters).

May 20, 2023, 08:04 PM

SSgt USMC/Vet

The dry chem can be use as chimney firebombs.
Just add the dry chem to zip lock baggies and keep for emergencies. You would drop them down into the chimney prior to FD arriving.

Still call 911 (Fire Dept) !!!!!! , this my help save your home.

May 20, 2023, 08:26 PM

MikeinNC

FYI, when I was in the CG my first job was checking all the extinguishers on the station and boats. Every week I had to take a rubber mallet to the dry chem and PKP fire bottles and whack them to keep the dry powder loose inside them. The CO2 bottles were weighed to ensure if the bottle leaked (proved by the bottle getting lighter)

The chemicals don’t go bad, the CO2 doesn’t go bad, but the chemicals can clump up and will not be discharged, and the CO2 can leak past a bad valve.

Calling your local FD and asking if they need any old outdated bottles for training can help in your area.

"Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor.” Robert A. Heinlein

“You may beat me, but you will never win.” sigmonkey-2020

“A single round of buckshot to the torso almost always results in an immediate change of behavior.” Chris Baker

May 20, 2023, 10:01 PM

trapper189

I’d use the expired ones for practice for myself and family.

May 20, 2023, 10:08 PM

Skins2881

quote:
Originally posted by 41:
You can have your fire extinguisher recharged. Usually there is a local business that provides the service.
Here is a business in Northern VA:

https://proteksfire.com/fire-extinguishers/

Testing and recertifying them is more expensive than just replacing them

May 20, 2023, 10:20 PM

jimmy123x

quote:
Originally posted by sigarmsp226:
Colorado et al: One thing I just noticed. Your extinguisher canister as well as mine is RED in color. Reading on line the red units are not identified as “Marine” extinguishers even though they reflect the required “B” and “C” fire extinguishing chemicals.

The “White” canisters are specifically identified as “Marine” extinguishers. I am going to purchase the white unit as it is only $3.00 more than the red unit as it is clearly marked for Marine use….Not sure it is required but why take the chance fr $3.00.

Not sure they would ticket a boat owner if the unit was current if it was a red unit vs. a white unit….Just thought I would share…

This entire date of manufacture being only so many years old came from the fact Kidde had a long run of fire extinguishers that were later deemed to be defective.

You don't need to have a marine unit to be legal on the water. Date is usually stamped clear as day on the bottom of the bottle.

If it's a dry chemical fire extinguisher, tip it upside down every 6 months and bang hard on the side of the bottle with the palm of your hand several times. This is to keep the dry chemical from becoming a brick inside and stay a powder.

May 20, 2023, 10:22 PM

Gustofer

quote:
Originally posted by jimmy123x:
You don't need to have a marine unit to be legal on the water. Date is usually stamped clear as day on the bottom of the bottle.

If it's a dry chemical fire extinguisher, tip it upside down every 6 months and bang hard on the side of the bottle with the palm of your hand several times. This is to keep the dry chemical from becoming a brick inside and stay a powder.

But then how would the fish cops be able to harass boaters and generate revenue?

May 20, 2023, 10:34 PM

Rightwire

If it shows fully charged, put it in your car/truck/van or in the house. Even if you only get a bit out of it if needed, it might be enough.

For god's sake make sure the pin is secured. I had a 5lb dry chem in the back of my SUV for years. One day while moving stuff around the pin must have gotten hooked on something and pulled out (likely the safety tie had broken prior). I moved one more thing and <POOF> I was surrounded in a cloud of yellow powder.

No... it is not fun to clean up
Yes.. it gets everywhere
and... you will find places you didn't know you had.